Tashkent and Samarkand in 4 days: the metro and old town, the Afrosiyob high-speed train, the Registan and Shah-i-Zinda

A 4-day route linking two cities by train

Uzbekistan's national tourism site gives Tashkent → Samarkand → Bukhara by train, then a bus to Khiva, as the standard traveller's route. This post covers the first part: Tashkent and Samarkand, linked by the Afrosiyob high-speed train.

The guides suggest 2 to 3 nights in Tashkent and 2 nights in Samarkand. Joining the two guides' 2-day routes gives you 4 days.

The tourism site calls spring and autumn the 'velvet season', the best time to travel. From around 20 June to early August comes 'chillya', the 40 hottest days.

• Day 1: Tashkent old town → metro to Amir Temur Square
• Day 2: Tashkent museums → Minor Mosque → Taras Shevchenko Street
• Day 3: Afrosiyob to Samarkand → Registan, Gur-Emir, Bibi-Khanym, Shah-i-Zinda
• Day 4: Afrasiab → Ulugbek Observatory → Imam al-Bukhari Memorial Complex

• Tashkent travel guide →
• Samarkand travel guide →

Arriving in Tashkent: metro and bus fares

Tashkent International Airport (TAS) is in the city's Sergeli district. The airport's official site gives no city transport details, so check bus routes and hours locally. For taxis, use an official taxi app as the tourism site advises, and check fares officially.

The Tashkent Metro officially runs daily from 05:00 to 00:00. The metro and buses cost UZS 1,700 per ride with an ATTO transport card or a contactless bank card; with cash, buy a one-ride QR ticket (UZS 3,000) at a station ticket office.

• Metro: daily 05:00-00:00
• Metro and bus: UZS 1,700 per ride (ATTO or contactless card)
• Cash QR ticket: UZS 3,000
• Taxi: official taxi apps; check fares officially

• Tashkent first trip: metro tips and 2-day route →

Days 1-2: Tashkent's old town and museums

Start Day 1 at the Khazrati Imam complex, a religious ensemble that survived the 1966 earthquake, where the 7th-century 'Quran of Osman' manuscript is kept in the library. Then browse and have lunch (plov, samsa) at Chorsu Bazaar, formed around the 10th century, see the 16th-century Kukeldash Madrasah and Gulbozor street a couple of minutes away on foot, and take the metro to Amir Temur Square, looking at the stations on the way.

On Day 2, visit the State Museum of Temurids History, the State Museum of History and the State Museum of Applied Arts, stop at the Minor Mosque on the Ankhor river, and walk Taras Shevchenko Street in the evening. Check museum hours and prices officially.

• Day 1: Khazrati Imam → Chorsu Bazaar → Kukeldash Madrasah and Gulbozor street → Amir Temur Square
• Day 2: three museums → Minor Mosque → Taras Shevchenko Street
• Museum hours and prices: check official info

Day 3 morning: the Afrosiyob high-speed train to Samarkand

Tashkent has a North and a South railway station; check your departure station and timetable officially when you book. According to Uzbekistan Railways, the Afrosiyob covers the 344 km from Tashkent to Samarkand at a top speed of 250 km/h, taking about 2 h 15 min.

Buy tickets with your passport details on the railway's booking site (eticket.railway.uz). Passenger details must match your passport exactly, and tickets sell fast in peak season, so book ahead. Check fares by date and class officially on the booking site.

• Tashkent: North and South stations (check your departure station)
• 344 km, top speed 250 km/h, about 2 h 15 min
• Booking: eticket.railway.uz, details exactly as in your passport
• Fare: check official info

• Samarkand in one day: Registan and the fast train →

Day 3 afternoon: the Registan, Gur-Emir, Bibi-Khanym and Shah-i-Zinda

In Samarkand, head first to Registan Square. It is officially open daily, 07:00-24:00 from 20 February to 20 November and 08:00-20:00 from 20 November to 20 February. E-tickets are sold at tickets.registon.uz.

See Gur-Emir, where Temur is buried, and the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, built in 1399-1404, then eat plov and Samarkand bread at Siab Bazaar right next door. In the afternoon, walk quietly through Shah-i-Zinda, with mausoleums from the 11th to the early 20th century.

According to a September 2026 Samarkand announcement, Gur-Emir and Bibi-Khanym stay open until 23:00 and the Registan until 24:00, with a music show at the Registan daily at 21:00. Hours can change, so check locally.

• Registan: 07:00-24:00 from 20 February to 20 November, 08:00-20:00 from 20 November to 20 February
• Gur-Emir → Bibi-Khanym Mosque → Siab Bazaar → Shah-i-Zinda
• Registan music show: daily at 21:00 (September 2026 announcement)

Day 4: Afrasiab, the Ulugbek Observatory and Imam al-Bukhari

The Ancient Settlement of Afrasiab in the north of the city dates back to the 8th century BC and has a Museum of the History of Samarkand and Afrasiab. The Ulugbek Observatory, built in 1428-1429, was a round three-storey building 46.4 m across, and its star catalogue described 1,018 stars.

In the afternoon, go to the Imam al-Bukhari Memorial Complex in Chelak district, about 25 km away; the mausoleum is topped by a 17-metre dome. It is a religious site, so dress and behave respectfully. Have dinner on Orzu Mahmudov Street, where, according to a September 2026 announcement by the Registan directorate, 20 eateries serve around the clock.

To return to Tashkent, check Afrosiyob timetables and fares officially on the booking site. You can also continue to Bukhara, as on the tourism site's standard route.

• Afrasiab: back to the 8th century BC
• Ulugbek Observatory: 1428-1429, 46.4 m across
• Imam al-Bukhari Memorial Complex: about 25 km, 17-metre dome
• Orzu Mahmudov Street: 20 eateries around the clock (September 2026 announcement)

Etiquette, safety and emergency numbers

In mosques and mausoleums avoid shorts, T-shirts and skirts, and women should cover their heads. Don't take photos during prayers, and ask before photographing people. Flying a drone requires prior permission. According to the tourism site, hotels and guesthouses register foreign guests; check the conditions officially.

Emergency numbers: unified number 112, police 102, ambulance 103, fire 101. The tourist safety call center is 1173, and both Tashkent and Samarkand have tourist police to help foreign visitors. The time zone is UTC+5.

Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has no travel alert for Uzbekistan (checked 2026-10-05). Entry rules depend on your nationality, so check official information before you travel.

• Unified 112, police 102, ambulance 103, fire 101
• Tourist safety call center 1173
• Registration: done by your hotel; check conditions officially
• Entry requirements: check official info

• Paying abroad: cash vs card vs travel card →

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